A full guide to MasterChef: The Professionals in 2026, covering both of this year's series: the judges, the chefs, key dates and the results so far.

Series 19 of MasterChef: The Professionals returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, running for seven weeks before the grand final on Friday, December 18.

Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing continue as judges, though Matt Tebbutt is not returning to the panel this time. The lineup features 24 professional chefs from across the country.

Series 18 aired earlier in the year, running from Tuesday, February 10 to Thursday, March 26 - the first series filmed in a new Birmingham studio, and the first in several years not to air in its usual November-to-December slot.

Gareth Baty triumphed over 31 other chefs to take the trophy, beating fellow finalists Luke Emmess and Mark O'Brien in the final.

Gareth Baty with the MasterChef: The Professionals trophy

Series 18: judges, guest chefs and the road to the final

Monica Galetti and Marcus Wareing were joined on the judging panel by new host Matt Tebbutt, who replaced Gregg Wallace.

For the first time, the skills test was set by former MasterChef: The Professionals champions and finalists. Returning to the kitchen were 2016 champion Gary Maclean, 2020 finalist and cookbook author Philli Armitage-Mattin, 2022 champion Nikita Pathakji, and 2018 finalist Matthew Ryle.

In the quarter-finals, leading critics, writers and restaurateurs judged the chefs' food, including Jay Rayner, Tom Parker Bowles, Leyla Kazim, Jimi Famurewa, April Jackson, William Sitwell and Xanthe Clay.

The remaining chefs also received a masterclass from John Chantarasak of Michelin-starred AngloThai, before cooking Thai-style dishes using ingredients from the MasterChef larder, including a traditional Thai charcoal stove.

Later, contestants travelled to the Scottish Highlands to cook as part of Mark Donald’s brigade at the two-Michelin-starred Glenturret Lalique restaurant.

Chef's Table, one of the competition's most daunting stages, returned to The Goring Hotel’s Michelin-starred Dining Room in central London.

For the final three, the competition culminated in South Tyrol, Italy, where the chefs cooked for Norbert Niederkofler at his three-Michelin-starred Atelier Moessmer.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals series 18 (2026)?

Gareth Baty triumphed over 31 other chefs to win series 18, beating fellow finalists Luke Emmess and Mark O'Brien in the final.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2024?

Dan Merriman saw off the competition of 31 other chefs across the series, outcooking fellow finalists Chiara Tomasoni and George Birtwell to take the trophy.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2023?

Tom Hamblet, sous chef at South Lodge Hotel, was crowned MasterChef: The Professionals 2023 winner, beating fellow finalists Kasae Fraser and Tommy Thorn, who both also competed in the grand final.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2022?

Junior sous chef at Kitchen W8, Nikita Pathakji beat her fellow finalists Sagar Massey and Charlie Jeffreys to become the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2022.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2021?

Private chef and UCB graduate Daniel Lee beat his fellow finalists Aaron Middleton and Liam Rogers to become the winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2021.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2020?

Alex Webb, the former head chef at Square 1 Restaurant and Catering in Dunmow, was crowned MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 winner.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2019?

Stuart 'Stu' Deeley, formerly the head chef at The Wilderness in Birmingham, won the MasterChef: The Professionals 2019 competition. He went on to spend three years as chef director of Smoke at Hampton Manor, before launching The Warwick at Mallory Court as executive chef in June 2025. He left that role in October 2026.

Who won MasterChef: The Professionals 2018?

Laurence Henry, former sous chef at two Michelin-starred Restaurant Sat Bains won MasterChef: The Professionals 2018.